President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday directed the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Ibrahim Idris to commence immediate investigations into the recent report of sexual abuse on girls and women at the Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs), by some officials.

The international rights group said in a statement that at least 43 cases of “sexual abuse, including rape and exploitation” had been documented by its researchers in July.

“It is bad enough that these women and girls are not getting much-needed support for the horrific trauma they suffered at the hands of Boko Haram,” said Mausi Segun, senior Nigeria researcher at HRW.

“It is disgraceful and outrageous that people who should protect these women and girls are attacking and abusing them,” he added.

However, in a statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Buhari expressed shock and dismay at the news.

The statement read: “President Muhammadu Buhari is worried and shocked by the recently released Human Rights Watch (HRW) report which alleges sexual abuse and exploitation of women and girls in camps for those displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.”

“The welfare of these most vulnerable of Nigerian citizens has been a priority of his government. Nigerians and the international community can rest assured that the allegations raised in the HRW are not being taken lightly.”

“President Buhari has instructed the Inspector General of Police and the state governors of the affected states to immediately commence investigations into the issue. Their findings will determine the next course of action for the government and define an appropriate response.”

“While the Nigerian military continues to work hard so that these unfortunate victims of Boko Haram terrorism can soon return safely to their homes, the government will do its best to ensure their protection and welfare in the temporary IDP camps.”

I had only just come in from ‘Iya-Oyo’ with a ‘take-away’ pack. I was just about settling down to commence the process of digging into this island dancing in an ocean of ewedu and gbegiri when my attention was drawn to the television. Toye Arulogun, Oyo State’s Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism was on TV. What an auspicious time to roll out plans for Amala Festival in Ibadan or ‘Amala Fiesta’, as he put it. I had to stop to first pay attention to the news and watch him unveil the logo of the festival before continuing with the important task at hand.

This piece was written by Simbo Olorunfemi. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of 360Nobs.com.

“Amala Fiesta, also known as Ajodun oka is not just a food and cultural tourism event, but a celebration of the Yoruba food culture and Oyo State’s foremost delicacy which has become a national pride with international presence and worldwide acceptance”, Arulogun said. Did he say worldwide acceptance? Well, it is the name you call your child that the public will take a cue from.

Listening to him, however, something told me this move was bound to be misunderstood and possibly ridiculed. I was going to immediately write but thought to let the Amala digest before hitting the keyboard lest I be guilty of writing under the influence. Or did someone not say something about not writing or is it speaking while eating? Before I could finally make it to writing, I noticed that some had already taken to the social media about the Amala festival. Reactions were, as was expected, not so kind. Many did not waste time in laughing it off as a joke, derisively dismissing this as another hare-brained idea of a government rather short of quality in thought, given more to ewedu thinking.

Well, it is difficult to defend public policy makers on the charge that they have largely demonstrated an inability to engage in strategic thinking or generate the big ideas. But I doubt that they pitched the Amala Fiesta as that big idea to rescue Oyo from where it is stuck. It seems to me to be just one project by a department of government, in fulfillment of its mandate to promote tourism in the state, and that is as it should be.

What is disturbing to me though is not even the expected dismissal of the idea behind the Amala fiesta by the ‘elite’ on the strength of newspaper headlines but what I have come to see as a penchant for ewedu thinking when it comes to engaging in an understanding of the gbegiri economy by commentators. In other words, the thinking is often watery and simplistic once it comes to interrogating the economy of the poor by commentators. No thought for its peculiarities, needs and nuances. It is, indeed, that lack of understanding on the part of the ‘intellectual elite’ that influences a summary dismissal of the phenomenon known as ‘infrastructure of the stomach’ in politics rather than for it to engage in a sober and deeper interrogation of this hydra-headed issue. What has food to do with politics? What is the language of food? It is that lack of proper interrogation that made some to simply spurn the initiative to pay five thousand naira to a category of vulnerable Nigerians as of no economic value. One celebrated columnist wrote off five thousand naira as nothing but money for ‘recharge-card.’

Indeed, five thousand naira is absolutely nothing for some Nigerians. It won’t even buy a tea-spoon of their favourite drink. But we must recognise that it is not so for everyone. In the economy of the poor man, five thousand naira is something. A pot of ewedu made from a N100 pack is prayer answered for many of our people. A lot of those trading on the streets and in road-side markets barely have an inventory worth N2000. Poverty is real. One only needs to see the faces of our mothers by the road-side light up with smiles over transactions of N100 only. They carry on with dignity, in spite of how society has failed them.

So, it is lazy to engage in ewedu thinking in rushing to disregard ideas that might positively impact on other people simply because they do not live in their world. Some of us find it difficult to make the connection between otherwise unrelated interventions and the effects on the poor man’s economy. Some might not understand the relationship between a functioning street light and how it powers the night economy of the poor man in Lagos, but there is a link for those who are able to trade for a few more hours in a more secure environment.

Back to the business of Amala, interestingly it is even now as much of the poor man’s business as that of others. By some calculation of mine, ‘Iya Oyo’ probably turns over nothing less than one million naira daily on a good day. Food has always been good business. Our people say hunger has to be displaced before other matters can be attended to. Food defines a people. Amala has taken a life of its own, defining the Yoruba people, even when it is only a section of the Yorubas who treasure or celebrate it the way it has been erroneously appropriated to define them. Iyan, not Amala, has always been the king in other parts of Yoruba-land.

But Ibadan is undoubtedly the Amala capital of the world. I doubt that the Oyo State government has gotten it wrong in seeking to create a buzz around it. Food festivals are popular worldwide and there is a huge economy around it. Some have asked how this would attract foreign tourists. It could, in the future, if well-packaged. But it does not even need to, for it to hold its head up. Local tourism is even more important for Nigeria, right now. If only we can fix local tourism, we would have enabled another sleeping giant and foreign tourism will only follow the domestic footprints.

There is a whole lot that can be done around food. Again, the potentials are there, as always. There is a lot we can do with jollof rice, even if we are to get the local production of that item fixed. Edikan-ikong has transcended its origin and become accepted by many nationally. Suya and Kilishi have crossed borders. These are tasty tools that enhance soft power and can be deployed for winning minds. Tokunbo Odebunmi’s Obalende Suya must have been one of Nigeria’s first major cultural footprints in London, using food to carve an identity for us in the London plate.

If the Germans can bring in six million people for Oktoberfest, a beer festival, what can possibly be wrong with Oyo’s Ajodun oka or Edikan-Ikong festival? Halloween is estimated to be more than a six billion dollar business for Americans. It is even beginning to creep up on us in Nigeria. Japan has built a world/brand around its sushi; so what is stopping us? There is so much we can tap into locally with immense potential to catalyse the local economy. I am particularly interested in the Amala fiesta because of its impact on the bottom of the pyramid and what it can do for the local economy, if properly managed.

Anything that brings attention to the labour (hustle) by the poor and puts more money in their pockets, no matter how little, ought to be supported. Funding from the coffers of the government ought to be minimal, if well thought out. All that the government needs to do is to work with the organisers to create a good environment and ensure access to every player interested in being a part of the festival. Difficult to tell what has become of the Cross River Christmas Festival/Carnival Calabar, these days. But years back, December was the best month for the local economy. Restaurants and hotel owners in Calabar benefited from the month-long influx into the state, with the Airlines and other businesses equally thriving.

There can be no writing off the Amala Fiesta on the strength of some Ewedu thinking. Any effort that promotes consumption of local products, especially food, can only be good. Practically everything about Amala is local. Even beyond the precincts of the festival ground, the buzz from the event is bound to go far on the wings of the internet, with immediate and not-so-immediate gains. With time, this festival should develop to find its feet. Whatever the future portends, the festival should do well in adding colour and injecting some life into the neglected, informal gbegiri economy. That is the bit that excites me the most. On the face of it, this can only be good. For the Amala Festival, time will tell if it delivers on expectation.

Inter Milan are lining up a move for PSG midfielder Marco Verratti, according to reports in Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Serie A club are prepared to splash out as much as €65m in order to lure the Italy international back to his homeland.

The Italy international midfielder’s agent complained that Verratti “could leave Paris” if the French media continued its unfair criticism.

Calciomercatoweb.it also says Inter could offer Geoffrey Kondogbia in part-exchange.

Their plan is to include cash plus Kondogbia in the proposal for Verratti, whose rapport with PSG boss Unai Emery is increasingly tense.

Nerazzurri lead the race after meeting with Di Campli to discuss terms over a deal worth £105,000 a week, and their cause could be further boosted should former PSG boss Laurent Blanc replace under-fire Frank de Boer at the San Siro.

Verratti, who missed Euro 2016 earlier this year due to injury, has played eight Ligue 1 games for PSG this term and featured in all three Champions League group games thus far.

Manchester United’s attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan “does not know what Jose Mourinho is thinking,” according to the Armenian football federation’s president.

Mkhitaryan suffered a thigh injury while on international duty with Armenia but was rushed back into United’s team for the derby match against Manchester City on Sept. 10.

The Armenian was substituted at half-time of the 2-1 defeat, with Mourinho later publicly complaining that some players had not given him what he wanted — and the 27-year-old has not played again since then.

Ruben Hayrapetyan, president of the Football Federation of Armenia, was quoted by Armenpress as saying:

“I cannot know what the Manchester United manager is thinking about. I have talked with Mkhitaryan, he also doesn’t know what Jose Mourinho is thinking. Mkhitaryan trains and is in good shape, but no one knows the reason [for his continued absence from games].”

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has not featured for Manchester United in over six weeks.
Mourinho had said in his news conference on Friday that the player was training and needed time to “become the top player we know he can be”.

The midfielder, signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, was again left out of the United matchday squad against Burnley on Saturday, though, and watched from the stands.

Moving to Real Madrid has made Gareth Bale a better person and lived up to all his expectations, the Welsh winger said on Monday.

The 27-year-old was speaking for the first time since he extended his contract with the La Liga club until June 2022.

“Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world,” Bale told a news conference.

“I definitely made the right decision. Real matches all my ambitions. It’s been three great seasons. I hope there are six more years like this. I feel very happy and loved here.”

And loved by the club’s president, Florentino Pérez, above all. Pérez has always considered him a future winner of the Ballon d’Or. Bale, though, insisted that he has never dreamed of winning the award.

Manchester United were reportedly keen to bring Bale back to the Premier League, but the player himself said he was unaware of interest from anywhere else and was delighted to remain at the “biggest club in the world.”

“I could not tell you if anybody has been interested,” he said. “If they have been, I don’t know about it. I’ve just been focused on Real Madrid. We [players] never speak about these things anyway.

He has felt extremely well looked-after since he arrived and his camp found Madrid immediately receptive during the negotiations, quickly reaching the basis of an agreement even though the construction of the contract was complex. They see Bale as the successor to Cristiano Ronaldo – and sooner rather than later.

Bale said that his three years in the Spanish capital had seen him grow up both as a person and a player.

“It has changed me quite a lot,” he said. “It has made me grow up more as a person. I came to Madrid in the first place to try something different. It is never easy for British players to travel abroad and be successful but I wanted to improve my game.

“I have had two good years here, and one that was not so good, which helped me to grow up too. Good and bad press is all part and parcel of the game. If you listen too much you can get yourself down. I know from experience not to listen too much to either the good or the bad comments.”

Bale has long been spoken about as a potential Ballon d’Or winner, but said such personal trophies were not something he thought about too much.

“As for the Ballon d’Or if you are playing well for your club and country and winning trophies, these things will happen,” he said. “For me it has never been a personal goal, when I was younger it was always about winning team titles.

“The personal awards come around when the team does well. It is not something I am striving towards, if it does come fantastic, but first and foremost it is about the team.”

Henrikh Mkhitaryan trained alone at Carrington on Sunday despite the Manchester United squad being given the day off by Jose Mourinho.

The Armenian international, 27, moved to the Premier League from Borussia Dortmund this summer, signing a four-year contract for a fee of £23.6million. But he’s made just one start under Mourinho since – the Manchester derby defeat by City.

The Manchester Evening News reports the Armenia international decided to report for training anyway in a bid to improve his fitness.

He was left out of United’s squad that drew 0-0 with Burnley on Saturday.

Following the release of #Aii, Africa’s most versatile Femcee SAEON MORUDA presents a video for the brilliant single off her forthcoming project Birth Of The #BoyChick. Set in Festal Town, Lagos, its raw visuals depict the un-sugarcoated reality of the regular Nigerian who irrespective of the hardship he/she faces, is able to muster up joy and laughter. No wonder Nigerians are the happiest people on Earth

#Aii by SAEON MORUDA was produced by DWill. The video was shot by C-DUBB of 8000Films.

Chelsea’s defensive prowess of late has been typified by David Luiz’s resurgence under their new formation, according to Jamie Redknapp.

The summer signing has impressed since re-joining the club, starring in Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 system.

The 29-year-old has been used in the middle of Chelsea’s new three-man defence, with Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta either side of him, and the trio have kept four consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League since the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal.

“There is a hunger about this Chelsea team,” said Redknapp. “The manager has brought that in and the players are buying into it.

“Every single player on that pitch is working hard and there’s desire about them again. Conte has got them so well drilled. Everybody knows their job when they have the ball and it suits them defensively as well.

“Luiz looks – I’m scared to say it – like a serious defender. You’ve got him buying into it as well, and that was a problem for Chelsea for many years. But when he’s like that, he looks the real deal.”

Real Madrid striker Mariano is a January target for Malaga, reports AS.

Malaga have a shortage of attacking options after Charles sustained an injury and they want to make a move for Mariano.

The 23-year-old has managed only 40 minutes of action for Madrid this term and coach Zinedine Zidane has reportedly told him that he should leave on a temporary basis in January to continue his development elsewhere.

Malaga have already made preliminary contact with the young forward.

Mariano, who scored 27 goals for Madrid’s reserve side Castilla last term, rejected offers from Leganes and Sevilla during the summer transfer window.

Cointreau launched the Cointreau Creative Crew philanthropic programme which encourages individuals to “dream, dare, create” in Nigeria in April this year. The grant was later launched in August and hundreds of applications were received. Nineteen businesses were selected by the Cointreau Creative Crew members during the eight-week period application period.

Last week, a media briefing was held to introduce the finalists whose businesses received the highest votes during the public voting phase to the CCC who will be mentoring the finalists for a two-month period before the finale event in January 2017.

The finalists were given the opportunity to speak about their business and explain how the €20,000 grant will be put in good use to creatively advance and expand their business to the members in attendance; Betty Irabor, (Founder and Publisher of Genevieve Magazine and the Creative Curator of the CCC, Nigeria), Barbara Lawrence (Chief Executive Officer of Insolitus Nigeria) and Afua Osei (Co-Founder, She Leads Africa).

The 10 finalists selected are:

Ttysoon.com:

Nigeria’s first retail web-to-print store. Launched on the 16th of January 2014, its flagship product was the online personalized greeting cards. however, products have been expanded to include other print products such as T-Shirts, Mugs, Canvas prints etc. The aim of this project is to solve the problem of unemployment by promoting creativity in graphics designing in Nigeria, utilizing a commission based crowd sourcing model to provide gainful employment for Nigerians all around the country interested in graphic designs. The second problem this serves to solve is the dearth of personalized print products on a retail basis for Nigerians; ttysoon.com is an online platform that provides personalised greeting cards and other print products to Nigerians at the click of a button.

Cash Madam:

A simple, innovative solution created to help women in particular, and other small and growing business owners in developing economies like Nigeria, who have largely remained undeserved in the technology boom, due to computer illiteracy and poverty, solve challenges in their businesses that affect revenue and business growth, and thereby improve their lives, using technology.

Workarena:

1850, an online platform which aims to change the way business owners find qualified apprentices and graduate apprentices for their businesses within Nigeria. Work arena allows business owners to directly search for and find the workers with the qualifications they are looking for. In addition to taking all the standard information in a CV, standardizing it and search thoroughly for the right candidate, Work arena will benchmark people through the match algorithms that ranks candidates.

Vegetable and Fruit Processing:

Aimed at sourcing vegetables and fruits from locally farmers scattered all over Nigeria. These sourced foods will be washed, dehydrated and package in a hygienic matter. The food will also be dehydrated to ensure that little or no food value is lost in the process. No additives or preservatives will be added; this is to ensure that the food is as natural as possible thus promoting healthy feeding. This will improve farmer’s revenue encourage them, create employment in the farms and also This project will also ensure that fruits and vegetables that are seasonal will be made available all through the year.

Introduction of Biotechnology:

Which helps in the production of a clean, non-explosive and an environmental friendly gas called Biogas. The gas can be used to cook, power generators, fertilizer can also be derived as a by-product. Biogas is a perfect alternative energy, it can help resolve the energy crisis, the incessant problem of waste management and most importantly a panacea to our dwindling natural resources. The system guarantees the sustainability of the client’s business as it helps reduce their energy cost, waste disposal cost and carbon footprints. The goal is to make as many people as possible energy independent and achieve Zero waste in the environment.

I-Skills 42:

An empowerment project with the aim of providing ICT literacy to tens of thousands of Nigerians using MELU. MELU, which stands for Mobile Electronic Learning Unit, is a state of the art citadel of learning on wheels. The main purpose of its creation is to offer quality practical ICT training and revolutionize the use of ICT tools right from the grassroots all over the country geared towards national and economic growth. The main tool of the I-skills literacy project is MELU. It is first of its kind in the world and can operate anywhere certified safe on land in Nigeria.

Tanabio Environmental:

Is a start-up renewable energy production business that will convert organic waste such as animal waste and agricultural waste into cooking fuel (bio-gas) and organic fertilizer through anaerobic digestion. The business goal is to use the organic wastes from markets, abattoirs, municipals and similar places to produce clean, renewable cooking fuel for residents in rural communities at a relatively affordable price using community or institutional biogas plant.

Waste to Décor:

Makes creative works of art from waste products like bottles, newspapers, magazines, straws, plastic, wood, CD tapes, and the likes. For example, unused magazines are used to create exquisite table mirror finishing’s, discarded plastics are used to make Christmas tree ornaments and table decorations. Products are affordable and cost effective compared to similar imported products and has also aided the employment of local artisans who depend largely on local production. This project will also aim to train more unemployed youths in rural areas.

Green Diamond:

This project entails the development of a greenhouse- a building with glass walls and glass roof in which flowers and plants are grown. Green Diamond will locally plant, grow and sell flowers in Nigeria. The idea was borne due to the lack of fresh flowers in Nigeria noticed by Diamond Ink events, a leading event/floral décor and production services company.

Nsaata Africa:

A bespoke shoemaking business started in Lagos, Nigeria in 2016. Nsaata produces shoes for people who have difficulty finding shoes that fit perfectly in retail shops and require a bespoke service. It also makes shoes for those who simply love to be involved in the design process and want something specially made for them or their loved ones.

The Cointreau Creative Crew remains committed to helping inspire young women move beyond maintaining the status quo by motivating and supporting advancement in their chosen career fields which is only achievable through the willingness to create and explore new avenues of self expression.

The young man, who is said to be the cousin of a former People’s Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, went on the adventure to prove his love for a lady, Sharon Donald – the daughter of a former governor of a state in the South-South.

The Punch learnt that Agbaje and Donald had met in Ikoyi, Lagos State, and had been friends for the past six years, but she had turned down his marriage proposal several times.

On how he met Donald, Agbaje said, “I was with my friends sometime in 2010 and while we were discussing about ladies, I said I wished God would just show me my wife anytime soon.

“About five minutes later, we were hungry and I went to get food on Awolowo Road. It was my first day at that eatery. I was waiting to be served when she walked in. Coincidentally, that day was also her first day there. I observed that there was a love image at the back of the trousers she put on.

“She approached me and asked what she could buy and I advised her. We later exchanged contacts and became friends. That was how my love for her started growing. We met several times afterwards.”

The young man said he decided to bare his feelings to Donald but got a no ‘for response’.

This led to him embarking on the “what no man can do for her” mission.

“I chose to trek to Zaria because her parents dated for six years in ABU, Zaria, before they got married. I didn’t let my parents know and to ensure I was not disturbed, I changed my SIM card. I took a tracker along with me to monitor my movements. I never took a bus at any time. It was a tough task and I even collapsed some of the times. I took off from Ketu on October 2 and arrived in Zaria on Thursday, October 20, around 4.15pm.

“I have no regret for what I have done. I have proved my love for her, even though she didn’t reciprocate my feeling. I believe even if she gets married to another person, nobody will ever be able to do what I did for her,” Agbaje added.

The Lagos State indigene was reportedly received on Friday, October 21, by the Chief Security Officer of the Ahmadu Bello University, Col J.K. Tukur; and the protocol office of the Emir of Zaria.

When contacted, Donald acknowledged Agbaje’s adventure but didn’t state if she would accept his proposal.

In a related development, a trekker, Muhammed Isa, 32, has once again embarked on a walk from Lagos to Abuja in solidarity with the Ali-Modu Sheriff’s Peoples Democratic Party faction, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Isa, who started the walk from Berger footbridge along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, told newsmen before departing at about 9.12 a.m. that youths of the party support Sheriff as the Chairman.

“I am on solidarity trek from Lagos to Abuja to show my support and the support of youths to Sheriff as the authentic national Chairman of PDP,’’ he said.

Isa, a graduate of Psychology, claimed that the youth felt that Sheriff was the best person to manage the affairs of the party.

“I want to make something clear, Ali-Modu Sheriff is someone who is honest and listens to grassroots politicians; he has been working tirelessly to ensure that PDP regains its lost glory.

“This is the type of person we need as a leader to move the party forward,’’ he said.

While stating that he hoped to finish the trek within 23 days, he said.

“I have already planned my journey, I will be trekking from morning to evening, wherever dusk meets me, I look for an accommodation there.

Steven Tones is one of the fastest emerging artistes in the Nigerian Afropop space at the moment and the talented artist is working hard to live up to the hype as he finally drops his maiden body of work, an EP titled “MAN OF THE MOMENT” today October 31st, 2016.

This is his first major project after the release of the smash hit single ‘NO LELE’ which peaked as 7th most downloaded song in the country in its week of release.

The 7 Track long EP from this talented young Benin-City bred artist, features label mate KOD and all songs produced by Andre Vibez except track 5 which was written and produced by Esbee. Every song on the EP has a distinctive message and sound which explicitly shows the lyrical and vocal abilities of Steven Tones.

Stream Man of the Moment EP by Steven Tones below

There are reports that the daughter of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, has lost her life in an auto crash on Tuesday.

According to a source, who knows a lot on the incident, Princess Mujidat Adejoke Adetunji-Alagbada, died in a car crash along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on October 25, 2016.

It was learnt that she had since been buried according to Islamic rites.

The source said, “Olubadan is sad because of the death of his daughter. She was the wife of a popular music promoter, Alagbada. She was going to her shop when her personal vehicle broke down. She chartered a taxi but on the way, the taxi was involved in an accident around the tollgate in Lagos.

“She later died of injuries she sustained in the accident. The Olubadan has received support from Ibadan elders and council of chiefs. She was buried on Wednesday according to Islamic rites.”

Germany head coach Joachim Low has signed a new contract taking him up to the end of Euro 2020.

The 56-year-old has been in charge of the German national team since 2006, winning the World Cup in Brazil two years ago.

They have reached at least the semi-finals in the last five major tournaments, winning 94 of his 141 games in charge.

Low’s previous contract had run to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and he will now lead the team’s Euro 2020 campaign.

DFB president Reinhard Grindel said: “Joachim Low and the DFB have this morning signed a new contract, renewing the partnership until 2020.

“We have common goals. We want to defend the title in Russia, and we want to win the 2020 European Championship.”

Low said success at Euro 2020 was a prime target and said: “If both mind and heart say yes, there is no reason to think about it for a long time. I still have the same motivation as when I started out. I feel the trust.”

He added: “Developing this team and these players and trying to take them to the highest level is a real joy.”

Low, who worked as Germany’s assistant manager for two years before become head coach a decade ago, has won 96 of his 141 matches, drawn 23 and lost 22.

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has insisted that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still one of the best strikers in the world and will not be affected by a Premier League goal drought lasting almost 10 hours.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has now gone six league games without scoring for the first time since he was at Inter Milan in 2007.

It’s a worrying statistic for the veteran who was chosen to spearhead United’s attack by Jose Mourinho after arriving from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

But Herrera believes that no one has a better temperament to come through the barren spell.

He said: ‘If one player can get back and pass this moment it’s him because of his attitude, his character and the way he works.

‘I have no doubt he is going to score a lot of goals for us. He is giving us a lot of things and some of the chances we created came because of him, so we cannot tell him anything.

‘We have to say that we have one of the best strikers in the world and his attitude, his character, is top.’

Herrera was unfortunate to be sent off in the 68th minute after he slipped into Dean Marney having already being booked for a late challenge on the Burnley midfielder.

‘I didn’t want to make those fouls,’ said Herrera. ‘I am not a violent player. I slipped. But I don’t want to complain because I don’t want to be banned for more games.’

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has backed his former boss to be a big success at Manchester City, calling his new club ‘a great team’.

Guardiola agreed to join City in January before finally taking over from Manuel Pellegrini in the summer, and made a flying start with wins in his first 10 games, but a 4-0 Champions League hammering off Barcelona and an EFL Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United saw questions asked about his management.

Messi, quoted in the Sun, said: ‘City are a great team. They have always been a great team each year we have faced them but now, by having Pep, they will grow more through his work.’

Messi is also close friends with Manchester City’s star striker and fellow Argentina international, Sergio Aguero, who he praised alongside one of his club team-mates and partners in the vicious ‘MSN’ strike force, Luis Suarez.

The 29-year-old said: ‘Kun is a very simple and easy-going person, a great lad and, as a striker, one of the best. As is Luis.

‘They are different but, if you want to look at it like that, either of them can decide a game. They are both very decisive.’

Graeme Souness thinks West Ham are ‘crying out for a striker’ after watching them lose 2-0 to Everton on Sunday.

The Hammers signed both Andre Ayew and Simone Zaza over the summer, but the former has only just returned from an injury suffered on the opening day, while Zaza has yet to settle after joining from Juventus.

“West Ham are crying out for a striker,” Souness said on Sky Sports. “They are playing without a centre forward.

“Ayew is short of match fitness and that is the hardest place to play – you have to be bang on it to get goals at the highest level.

“Zaza runs around with no real thought to his game, and they are playing without any real threat at the moment.”

In a bid to solve the issue, the versatile Michail Antonio has been used as a forward in the last two matches
Hammers boss Bilic also rued his side’s inability to capitalise on their bright start.

“I am disappointed because we should have taken something,” Bilic said. “We should have done better, especially after the start we had for the first 20-25 minutes.

“We were much better and should have built on that. When we offered them a little they took it straight away, they offered us a lot, in the first half especially, but you have to be more cruel and penetrate better and score goals. If you don’t score you have a big chance of losing the game.”